Pin setting device for retaining a connector in a cable tap

Abstract

A cable tap comprising: a first port configured to receive a connector; a second port; and a pin setting device installed within the second port, the pin setting device comprising: a plunger; and a biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to the plunger, which causes the plunger to apply a retaining force to the connector installed in the first port.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pin setting device comprising:
 an outer body; 
 a plunger within the outer body; 
 connection features to connect the pin setting device to a second port of a cable tap; and 
 a biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to the plunger and engage the plunger against a pin of a connector for retaining the pin in place when the connector is installed in a first port of the cable tap, wherein the connector connects the cable tap to a distribution line. 
 
     
     
       2. The pin setting device of  claim 1 , further comprising a dust cap integrated with the pin setting device. 
     
     
       3. The pin setting device of  claim 1  further comprising a catch, wherein the biasing member is retained by the catch and the biasing member is provided between the catch and an end face of the plunger. 
     
     
       4. The pin setting device of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:
 a plastic; 
 a rubber; 
 a dielectric material; and 
 a conductive material. 
 
     
     
       5. The pin setting device of  claim 1 , wherein the connection features include threads. 
     
     
       6. The pin setting device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the biasing member applies a reactionary biasing force onto the outer body. 
 
     
     
       7. The pin setting device of  claim 6 , further comprising a sleeve received at least partially in the outer body. 
     
     
       8. The pin setting device of  claim 7 , wherein the biasing member applies the reactionary biasing force onto the sleeve, and the sleeve transmits the reactionary biasing force to the outer body. 
     
     
       9. The pin setting device of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve defines a bore and the plunger is configured to retract within the bore by the biasing force. 
     
     
       10. A cable tap comprising:
 a housing defining a first port and a second port, the first port configured to receive a connector configured to connect the cable tap to a distribution line, the second port intersecting substantially perpendicularly with the first port; and 
 a pin setting device received in the second port, the pin setting device comprising:
 a plunger that is movable toward and away from the first port and configured to engage the connecter when the connector is installed in the first port and prevent the connector from displacement from the first port; 
 a biasing member coupled to the plunger and configured to apply a biasing force to the plunger such that the plunger presses against the connector when the connector is received into the first port, wherein the biasing force causes the plunger to retain the connector in the first port; 
 an outer body that is secured to the second port, wherein the biasing member applies a reactionary biasing force onto the outer body; and 
 a sleeve received at least partially in the outer body, wherein the biasing member applies the reactionary biasing force onto the sleeve, and the sleeve transmits the reactionary biasing force to the outer body, wherein:
 when the outer body is connected in the second port, the sleeve engages the outer body such that the outer body prevents the sleeve from moving with respect thereto in at least one direction, 
 the sleeve is slidable in at least one other direction relative to the outer body, and 
 the outer body is removable from the second port without removing the sleeve or the pin setting device. 
 
 
 
     
     
       11. The cable tap of  claim 10 , wherein the plunger comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:
 a plastic; 
 a rubber; 
 a dielectric material; and 
 a conductive material. 
 
     
     
       12. The cable tap of  claim 10 , further comprising a dust cap installed within the second port adjacent to and separate from the pin setting device. 
     
     
       13. The cable tap of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve defines a bore and the plunger is configured to retract within the bore by the biasing force. 
     
     
       14. The cable tap of  claim 10 , further comprising a catch, wherein the biasing member is retained by the catch and the biasing member is provided between the catch and an end face of the plunger. 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 inserting a connector into a first port of a tap, wherein the connector is configured to connect the tap to a distribution line; 
 tightening the connector into the first port; 
 inserting a pin setting device into a second port of the tap after tightening the connector into the second port, wherein the pin setting device is configured to retain the connector within the tap; and 
 tightening the pin setting device into the first port to cause a plunger to provide a retaining force against a pin of the connector, the retaining force being provided by a biasing member within the pin setting device, wherein tightening the pin setting device into the first port causes the plunger to retract within a bore defined in a sleeve of the pin setting device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 installing a dust cap into the first port after tightening the pin setting device into the first port. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein inserting the connector into the first port of the tap includes inserting the connector when a common space shared by the first port and the second port is empty. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein tightening the connector into the first port causes the pin of the connector to reside at least partially a common space shared by the first port and the second port. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the tightening the pin setting device into the first port causes the plunger to retain the pin within a common space shared by the first port and the second port.